IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Grand Finals for the inaugural season of the Overwatch League, which
will determine the champions of the world’s first global city-based
esports league, will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York,
over July 27–28, 2018.

Following the end of the Overwatch League regular season on Sunday, June
17, the postseason will begin with a field of six teams on Wednesday,
July 11, at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles in Burbank, California. After the
playoffs conclude, two finalists will take center stage in the Big
Apple—at the home arena of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets—to battle for a share
of the USD $1.4 million prize pool, the Overwatch League trophy, and a
place in the history books.

The Grand Finals will feature an immersive on-site fan experience at
Barclays Center, and will culminate in the ultimate showdown for the
Overwatch League championship: the first team to win two best-of-five
matches will take home the trophy. Play begins Friday, July 27, at 8
p.m. EDT with the first best-of-five match, and continues Saturday, July
28, at 4 p.m. EDT with the second and potential third series.

“The Overwatch League Grand Finals will be an epic experience for fans
and viewers,” said Overwatch League commissioner Nate Nanzer. “We want
this to be the pinnacle of esports, and holding it at a world-class
venue like Barclays Center, in a global capital like New York, will help
us celebrate not only the league’s two best teams, but the fans,
partners, and players who have joined us on this incredible journey.”

“We are thrilled to host the inaugural Overwatch League Grand Finals, as
we are quickly becoming a marquee destination for global esports
leagues,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment.
“This past year, the Overwatch League became the breakout league in the
sports industry, and we anticipate drawing a dynamic international
audience to experience the event live in July.”

Tickets to the two-day event go on sale on Friday, May 18, at 10 a.m.
EDT, and can be purchased on ticketmaster.com and barclayscenter.com or
by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets also can be purchased at the American
Express Box Office beginning Saturday, May 19, at 12 p.m. EDT. One-day
tickets will go on sale at a later date, subject to availability.

Tickets to the first two rounds of the Overwatch League postseason at
Blizzard Arena Los Angeles go on sale Thursday, May 10, at 9 a.m. PDT
via AXS.com.

The Overwatch League™ is the first major global professional esports
league with city-based teams across Asia, Europe, and North America.
Overwatch® was created by globally acclaimed publisher Blizzard
Entertainment (a division of Activision Blizzard—Nasdaq: ATVI), whose
iconic franchises have helped lay the foundations and push the
boundaries of professional esports over the last 15 years. The latest
addition to Blizzard’s stable of twenty-one #1 games,[1] Overwatch was
built from the ground up for online competition, with memorable
characters and fast-paced action designed for the most engaging gameplay
and spectator experiences. To learn more about the Overwatch League,
visit www.overwatchleague.com.

About Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment:

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) develops and operates
state-of-the-art venues and manages premier sports franchises,
delivering dynamic content and experiences for audiences. BSE oversees
programming, marketing, sales, and operations for Barclays Center, NYCB
LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and LIU Brooklyn
Paramount Theatre. BSE manages and controls the Brooklyn Nets and its
NBA G League team, the Long Island Nets, as well as the business
operations of the NHL’s New York Islanders.

Barclays Center, which opened on September 28, 2012, offers 17,732 seats
for basketball, 15,795 for hockey, and up to 19,000 seats for concerts,
and has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, four clubs, and Parm
Italian Restaurant & 40/40 CLUB by Tanduay Rum.

NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, reopened
on April 5, 2017, after undergoing an extensive renovation. The Coliseum
offers 14,500 seats for basketball, MMAb and boxing, 13,900 for hockey,
up to 15,000 for concerts, and 4,500 seats for its theater
configuration. With a focus on emerging businesses, BSE identifies and
creates alliances, strategic partnerships and other business
opportunities to ensure the success of its assets.

[1] Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and
reports from key distribution partners.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in
this press release that involves Blizzard Entertainment's expectations,
plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including
statements about the dates, events and features of the Overwatch League,
including details about the playoffs and Grand Finals of the inaugural
season, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a
number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Blizzard
Entertainment's actual future results to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release
include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the
risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report
on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The
forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information
available to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard as of the
date of this release, and neither Blizzard Entertainment nor Activision
Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may
ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of
the future performance of Blizzard Entertainment or Activision Blizzard
and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which
are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially
from current expectations.